It is quite important for some companies to examine the process of choosing a forklift. Like for instance, will your business choose consistently the same model for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more effective forklift. There can be other models available on the market which allow more to get accomplished because they offer less exhaustion to operators. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more cost-effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the best machine to meet all of your requirements. By reducing operator fatigue, you could significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift units that address your specific issues some of the key factors to consider could comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't need a pricey lift truck to complete jobs if your shipping and receiving department loads only a few semi-trailers or box trucks per week. An inexpensive walkie-rider or walkie unit will be able to deal with the job if: A 4500 to 6000 lb. capacity is enough and you do not need to stack loads inside the trailer. Lastly, you have to consider whether or not the transition from the dock floor to the dock leveler and into the trailer is not too jarring for the operator as the small load wheels should travel over the dock plate.
If your shipping facility is always loading trailers on the other hand, a stand-up end control model may make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door easily. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts provide a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Each business has a slightly different system for material handling. In certain circumstances, several forklift operators not just load trucks in the shipping department, but replenish the manufacturing line, store inventory on racks, handle the paperwork connected with the loads, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Generally, the forklift operators who are always on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it a lot quicker and less tiring to exit a stand-up control unit, as opposed to a sit down kind.